Compare towns

Pelham vs Reading vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasurePelhamReadingWindham
People
Population
14,449
699Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #48 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Windham School District
High school in town Pelham High School None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.